- WIADOMOŚCI
Russia mobilises 25,000 more troops
The decision is far smaller than the mobilisation of nearly half a million people that many had feared. Russia is increasing the authorised number of servicemen by 25,000, but this remains a limited step rather than a fundamental expansion of its military potential. A much larger mobilisation may still be ahead if the Kremlin concludes that current recruitment is no longer sufficient.
The authorised strength of the Russian Armed Forces will rise to 2,426,130 personnel, including 1,535,000 servicemen. The increase will enter into force on 1 August and is formally linked to the establishment of new military construction units.
It must be underlined that this is not the large-scale mobilisation discussed in recent months. There were concerns that Russia might call up close to half a million people to compensate for battlefield losses and prepare for a further phase of the war. Ultimately, the latest decision concerns only 25,000 additional servicemen.
On the one hand, this number is not insignificant and may strengthen logistics, construction and support structures. On the other hand, it does not fundamentally change the balance of forces, especially when compared with the scale of Russian losses and the size of the ongoing war.
Russia has repeatedly shown that it is prepared to accept substantial casualties without abandoning its strategic objectives. For now, the Kremlin continues to rely on contract recruitment, regional financial incentives and gradual expansion rather than another politically risky nationwide call-up.
The world will now be watching whether Moscow can fill these positions and continue replacing its losses without introducing a broader mobilisation. The latest decree is therefore a limited step. A much larger call-up may still lie ahead, although Russia will probably delay it for as long as the existing recruitment system remains sufficient.
